Day 15 - Rome wasn't built in a day-but it was conquered by Kat and Rich in a Day

Early morning wake up call for our visit to another country...Vatican city. No passport required. We did something completely unlike us, and booked with a tour agency, because we were warned by our hotelier that Saturdays at the Vatican mean very long lines, and we might not be able to do anything else all day. So we were herded to a bus with many other tourists, given our identification stickers, counted off like kindergartners on a field trip, and hustled over to the Vatican Museums. We also had to wait for all 49 people to go to the bathroom, get coffee and snacks at the cafe, get their headphone systems all lined up, etc. This is not our kind of travel. Still, all in all we are glad we got in to see the Vatican collections, and in particular, the Sistine Chapel. It was restored in the late 1990s, and Michelango's masterpiece is vibrant and alive with God's creation of earth and humankind. We also got into St. Peters Basilica - we've seen a lot of churches in Italy, but this is by far the largest. It also houses priceless art and artifacts. We ditched the tour, and set off on our own after that, and made it to the Colleseum and Roman Forum sites for the afternoon. Though both sites are only relics of their former selves, it was still pretty amazing to stand to all this preserved antiquity, knowing Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, etc. also trod this same rocky pathway. One thing Rich and I have found interesting most everywhere we've been through Italy is the offhand way pillars, columns, and other building debris is just lying around in a field - no sign, no explanation - like so much antique garbage. Rich thought this picture sums it up.

A true Roman dinner - complete with caffe and dolci, and then on for our last Italian gelato, and it was back home. Tomorrow we return to the US - it's been a fascinating journey. Hope you've all enjoyed it too!


Ciao,
Kat (and Rich)